Teaching and Mentoring

Our faculty lead the world in research. They also care deeply about teaching and mentoring.

Great faculty-led teaching teams—which often include accomplished students serving as teaching fellows—draw not only from their deep knowledge of the subject matter, but also from current events, their own lived experiences, and the diverse perspectives in their classroom to make learning relevant.

The School emphasizes open inquiry, constructive engagement, and a culture of pluralism. That means you will be encouraged to explore varied perspectives, even when that may be challenging or uncomfortable.

The goal is to help you grow as thinkers, as collaborators, and as active participants in the world.

Whatever your chosen path, our faculty will prepare you to succeed.

Meaningful learning experiences

There’s no one-size-fits-all for Harvard Chan School classes.

You could find yourself trekking through the Amazon during a winter course on malaria in Brazil. Ducking below heating ducts for a first-hand look at strategies to create healthier buildings. Or asking questions of a top editor at the New York Times in a course about engaging with the media.

You will also have many opportunities to build relationships with peers and faculty from other degree programs, as well as professional networks. These include:

• Interdisciplinary concentrations that support both professional growth and deeper exploration of a public health field.
• Practicum opportunities that embed students at public health organizations in Boston and around the world.
• Community-engaged learning experiences that are supported in part by special fellowships.

“I truly appreciated how this experience was not about hitting metrics, collecting achievements, or checking boxes. It was—and is—genuinely about the communities we serve… Unexpected discoveries along the way became the most meaningful lessons.”

Miriam Krimmer, MPH ’25

Mentors who challenge and inspire

At Harvard Chan School, you’ll find mentors who push you, support you, and open doors for you.

Many times, that will be a faculty member. But you’ll also find powerful mentors among your peers, your program directors, and visiting fellows.

Our Menschel Senior Leadership Fellows include business executives, nonprofit leaders, and veteran politicians, including foreign health ministers, U.S. cabinet secretaries, governors, and mayors. They come to campus to spend time with you: They teach classes, hold regular office hours, and answer your questions in fireside chats.

Additional support is available for first-generation students.

A culture of growth

Growth is not just for students.

Our faculty and teaching fellows work hard to improve their own skills, supported by a talented staff of learning design experts who support every phase of course design, development, and delivery.

Department chairs and program directors also pay close attention to course evaluations and offer instructors additional coaching where needed.

Other learning opportunities for instructors include:

Mentoring workshops, which train faculty in best practices for inclusive mentoring.

Peer development workshops, where faculty discuss topics ranging from using generative AI to creating space for inclusive conversations.

Teaching Fellow trainings, which provide a common framework for policies and practices across the school.